Residents discuss proposals for downtown

Neal Simpson

Wednesday

Jun 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 27, 2007 at 9:29 PM

Consensus was in short supply Monday night as around 70 community members packed the Broadmeadow School auditorium to discuss proposals that could bring larger buildings, new traffic and more parking to Needham.

Consensus was in short supply Monday night as around 70 community members packed the Broadmeadow School auditorium to discuss proposals that could bring larger buildings, new traffic and more parking to Needham.“We had a lot more discussion than decisions,” said Charlie Hurwitch, reporting for his workshop group at the end of the meeting.The planning workshop was meant to collect community feedback on initial planning recommendations by the Needham Center Study Committee, which has been charged with drafting a master development plan for downtown Needham.Community members were split into seven groups and asked to discuss conceptual plans that included relaxed building height restrictions, parking garages and streetscape improvements for the 67-acre study area. The committee will draft a comprehensive development plan passed on last week’s discussions.“This is a starting point to react to,” committee member Robert Smart said.The study area includes 136 parcels stretched along Chestnut Street and Highland Avenue from Junction Street to Memorial Park and has been divided into three business districts: Chestnut Street; Center; and Highland Avenue.In the Center and Chestnut Street areas, the committee recommended allowing developers to build up to four stories if they meet certain design incentives. Around Town Hall, this would bring the buildings along Chapel Street and Highland Avenue closer to the height of Town Hall, which is now flanked by one- and two-story buildings.Current zoning for the area limits development to 2-1/2 stories, or 35 feet.“That is preventing average-size developments in downtown,” Smart told a workshop group.Many community members supported relaxing height restrictions, but questioned whether developers would be able to rent or sell residential units built over shops or restaurants. Others argued robust development would draw more people to Needham Center and create a demand for additional housing units.“I think the reason we’re doing this in Needham right now is it’s a little stagnant,” Steve Heffernan said in one workshop group.The committee also proposed using “pedestrian links” to improve accessibility across downtown, especially between Chapel Street and Highland Avenue.“You have pedestrian links and they work,” Smart said. “What you need is more of them and greater quality.”The committee also asked community members to consider seven potential sites for a parking structure.“I think additional parking is critical to any significant development in downtown Needham,” Smart said.The groups differed on the best location for a parking garage, but many people agreed a garage on the edge of downtown would be best. One group suggested that visiting shoppers should be encouraged to park toward the center of town while employees should park in garages elsewhere.“The structures at the edge we liked a lot, thinking it would encourage more foot traffic at the center of town,” Hurwitchreported from his group.Another community member, Sam Warner, argued the town could solve its parking needs by consolidating existing private lots.Community members also discussed how traffic should be routed through Needham Center and whether national retailers should be discouraged from setting up shop in town.Using feedback from the workshop, the committee will draft a comprehensive development plan and submit it to the Planning Board and, eventually, Town Meeting, according to committee member Gerald Wasserman.Wasserman said he did not know when the plan would be completed.